College student killed in road rage leads to charges 4 years later, IL cops say

Just months away from graduating from Southern Illinois University, a 22-year-old man was fatally shot during a road rage incident in the Chicago suburbs, Illinois police say.

Now, a 36-year-old man has been charged following the 2021 Thanksgiving break shooting of Daniel Lobo, the Gurnee Police Department announced May 12.

“This marks an important step in pursuing justice for Daniel and his family,” Gurnee Police Chief Brian Smith said in a statement. “From the moment this tragedy occurred, our department has been committed to uncovering the truth and holding those responsible accountable.”

Police said Lobo was a passenger in a vehicle that was involved in a road rage incident with another car. Lobo was shot in the back, according to police.

Lobo, of Waukegan, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police said.

“Just because you got cut off. You know what I mean?” René Lobo, Daniel’s father, told WLS at the time. “That’s not right. That person cannot be on the street anymore.”

The Lake County Major Crime Task Force assisted officers in the investigation, leading to charges brought against Llovani Gomez.

Gomez, who was already in custody for an unrelated case, was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, attempted first-degree murder and aggravated discharge of a firearm, police said.

Daniel Lobo was described in his obituary as an avid baseball player who had a love for music, with oldies and bachata being his favorites.

“He was a sweetheart, a dedicated and smart young man,” the obituary states. “He spent most of his time studying, playing sports, visiting family and friends.”

He was just six months away from graduating with his master’s degree in biology from Southern Illinois University Carbondale, per his obituary.

Gurnee is about a 45-mile drive northwest from Chicago.

This story was originally published May 13, 2025 at 1:24 PM with the headline "College student killed in road rage leads to charges 4 years later, IL cops say."